Eight Finalists announced for The Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship

BY Sydney Eisteddfod | 04-Jul-2018

Eight outstanding young vocalists have been selected to progress to the Final of The Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship on Sunday 15 July. Finalists will have the opportunity to perform alongside the North Sydney Symphony Orchestra in the hope of securing their part of the $70,000 on offer for professional development. @sydeisteddfod #sydneyeisteddfod

Eight outstanding young vocalists have been selected to progress to the Final of The Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship on Sunday 15 July. Finalists will have the opportunity to perform alongside the North Sydney Symphony Orchestra in the hope of securing their part of the $70,000 on offer for professional development.

Adjudicators John Bolton-Wood AM and Amelia Farrugia will be joined by Guest Adjudicator Dr Nicholas Milton AM for the Final; all three are Sydney Eisteddfod Alumni and know first-hand how important performance and professional development opportunities are for young singers.

Adjudicator John Bolton-Wood AM says that performance opportunities provide aspiring singers with important experience that will assist them in their careers.

“Sydney Eisteddfod offers students an opportunity to be assessed by people other than their teachers and provides them with an audition formula for agents and opera company auditions later in their careers,” said Mr Bolton-Wood.

“As a competitor myself many years ago I made friendships which have endured a lifetime and the memory of experiences which helped shape my future course as a singer with the advice and encouragement I had from friends and colleagues alike,” he said.

Adjudicator Amelia Farrugia was awarded The Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship in 1994 and is also a Sydney Eisteddfod Ambassador.

“The Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship provides invaluable & precious opportunities to young singers. The Operatic world is highly competitive as there are so few opportunities for Aussie artists. Young singers need to study overseas to be able to compete at an international level and to learn foreign languages such as Italian, French & German,” said Ms Farrugia.

“Finalists will have a rare opportunity to perform with an Orchestral accompaniment on the stage of The Concourse Concert Hall in Chatswood. I hope this year’s Finalists will relish the opportunity to work with International conductor Dr Nicholas Milton,” she said.

In 2018, in addition to the scholarship awarded to the outright winner, valued at $43,000, the second place-getter will receive a scholarship valued at $12,000. Third place will receive $5,000 and the people’s choice award nominated by the live audience at the Final is valued at $500. Non-placing finalists will receive $1,000 and Semi-Finalists that do not progress to the Final $500.

The Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship Final will be held at The Concourse Concert Hall, Chatswood on Sunday, 15 July 2018 at 2:30pm.
Adult $45; Concession $37.
Bookings sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/opera

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